Double vision

You are an American; you do all the things Americans do; you even have the dream. But America doesn’t want you, doesn’t accept you, is systematically attempting to erase you. Schools don’t teach about you; laws don’t fully protect you. The America you think you are a part of is a mirage. You must every day keep a certain clarity about yourself yet remain keenly aware of America’s vision of you. You need that dogged strength that is partly the spirit of protest and partly the shoring up of your gayness so that your gay line of vision is clear, beautiful, strong. Living as a gay man means holding this double vision, and I have to attempt to show you how to make both your visions strong.

RICHIEJACKSON

When I was writing about Pete Buttigieg's achievement of having made it to Iowa and to the national stage in the national debates, this is basically what I was thinking about: that double vision that we as gay men should keep at all times: yes, we are here. Yes, we are queer. But we have to fight for people to get used to it. And with IMPOTUS and his promoting of a racist, sexist, xenophobic and homophobic America, it becomes more of a struggle every day.

This administration has done everything in its power to curtail all the rights that LGBTQ people won during the Obama administration. And it's not over: because the reelection will be contested in every front, now the Orange Bufoon's White House has launched a full-on attack on LGBTQ rights. And it's not just the Trans ban in the military: it's also adoption, rolling back anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, health care and stacking the courts with homophobic judges. Add to that the 'religious freedom' initiatives and the restrictions for asylum seekers and you have a very good idea of what this administration has done to roll back gay rights' progress in a drastic manner.

So when I think about the upcoming elections I am not only thinking about getting rid of the corrupt IMPOTUS, I am also thinking about that double vision that we have to keep as gay men: there are issues that need to be addressed when voting. LGBTQ rights is one of them. And I know that many gay men with money have seen benefits that this administration has brought them and that's why they voted for Cheeto (yeah, I used to know some people who voted for Twitler. They're not in my circle anymore, natch). But they're a minority. The majority of us needs to think about the future and about the kind of world we want to live in.

Yes, Drag Race is fun. Yes, Schitt's Creek last season is here. Yes, you are not an 'issues' voter. Yes, Buttigieg is a presidential candidate, but we have to do all we can to have IMPOTUS removed along with his minions and his evil policies overturned. Because there's more than our future at stake: it's the future of other generations what's in danger. Our double vision should be focused not only on what we have right now (that can be taken away any moment, remember SCOTUS is stacked with Cheeto nominees) but what we need for the future. So get thyself to some info and become an activist. Vote. Get others to vote. Because it's going to get ugly.

XOXO